This is because 75
percent carbon dioxide emitted in the atmosphere comes from energy.

At a panel discussion
on Climate science and climate policy linkages: what has worked for Africa and
why? Musumali says achieving the 2°C limit as scientific evidence has indicated
will require that global net emissions of greenhouse gases approach to zero by
the second half of the century.

“To do this, it will
require a profound transformation of energy systems by mid-century through
steep declines in carbon intensity in all sectors of the economy, a transition
called “deep de-carbonization.”

And World Climate
Applications Division at the World Meteorology Organisation (WMO) Professor
Buruhani Nyenzi added that Africa has more scientists in methodology and
climate science now than it used to have in the 1970s when climate change
became a topic globally.

“I do not think we
lack scientists, we have institutions that can give us the right information.
But we do not take it seriously. What we are missing in climate talks is
coordination of information,” he said.

Director at the
Institute for Environment and Sustainable studies college of Basic and Applied
sciences from University of Ghana Professor Chris Gordon said lack of respect
for African climate scientists by policy makers is one of the major obstacles
to negotiate with relevant evidence at global climate change negotiations.

Prof Gordon says the
lack of expertise and gap in communication among different actors is among the
reasons Africa has lagged behind in the global climate talks.

“We need evidence to
support what we talk about at global climate negotiations. We need to do in
depth vulnerability assessment, impact analysis on gender to have Africa
relevant agenda whenever we go to such global negotiations,’ Prof Gordon said.

And African
Development Bank (AfDB) and coordinator ClimDev- Africa Special Fund Justus
Kabyemera said Africa has not been able to access various climate financing
because of its various challenges.